What the hell is this thing?

[dazza027]

Ok, guys, first post on the forum so I thought Id make it a good one. What is this Bass that I got as a package deal second hand with a Jackson Performer last week... Ive worked out its loosely a Fender Jazz Bass (I think) but how do I find out if its really a fender? Its been repainted by the previous owner. It used to be a crimson red. If its not a Fender, what brand is it likely to be?

[palmann]

Could be anything, parts bass, cheapo. How does it sound/play?

Gruesse, Pablo

[dazza027]

Im only new to Bass, as in when I got the guitar. So I dont know the first thing about them. As far as guitars go, its bloody heavy, bloody solid and sounds very mellow, but still crisp up and down the frets. Im just running it through my Princeton Chorus guitar amp on the clean chanel and yeah it sounds very nice. Well to my ear anyway. Only tune I have learnt so far is pink floyd money... and just the riff not the fancy bits.

[Etchbass]

I'm only new to Bass, as in when I got the guitar. So I dont know the first thing about them. As far as guitars go, its bloody heavy, bloody solid and sounds very mellow, but still crisp up and down the frets. Im just running it through my Princeton Chorus guitar amp on the clean chanel and yeah it sounds very nice. Well to my ear anyway. Only tune I have learnt so far is pink floyd money... and just the riff not the fancy bits.

I don't think thats a fender, but being a Fender guitar isn't everything. It looks like it might be a solid bass. What is most important is that you like the way it sounds and plays.

Also just wanted to mention that Money was the first song I learned on bass. Congrats on your new bass! Good luck!

[spaz21387]

Any marks to help us? have you pulled the neck yet? theres usualy dating marks on the neck or in the neck pocket.

[dazza027]

I havent undone the plate. Not rreally keen to, it has made in japan on it though.

[spaz21387]

It doesnt hurt the bass at all as long as you are careful you should be fine. Usually there will be a date of manufacture on the neck or in the neck pocket. Just for fun why dont you go on the fender website and enter the serial into their database for dating instruments. Although I dont know if they have one for japanese instruments.

[dazza027]

I take it I have to back the strings off to undo it yeah? Where is the serial likely to be on these bad boys? I sounded like a pom just then lol...

[dazza027]

Nothing on the neck, on the back of the palte or on the body except the old ****** red paint. Ah well, faker I guess.

[spaz21387]

either the back side of the head stock or the front side of the head stock or possibly in the neck pocket. And the easiest way of getting the neck off is loosen the strings get a hair scrunchy or rubberband and wrap it around the neck maybe at like the 3rd fret. then take out the 4 screws. as long as you are careful you wont strip screws or anything. But I think its a parts bass the ash tray doesnt look right.

[dazza027]

Id say youre right spaz. It doesnt have the f for starters...

[Lonesomedave]

it must be a parts bass, but it looks good.

it has the jazz plate on it, with the knobs, but it seems to have only one pick up....right?

is the pick up like the jazz or like the precision?

i don't know about the covers not looking right, but I don't think fender ever let anything out of their shop that you couldn't tell was a fender....


/s/ Dave

[fenderhutz]

Looks like an old MIJ Cort (or similar) P copy that came out of the Matsumoku factory. Most (but not all) basses that came from that era are known to be well built and decent basses.

If it's an Ibanez or Aria P copy it COULD be a stellar find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsumoku

[dazza027]

Nah it has 2 pick ups. Im just wondering if the rectangular mother of pearlish inlays on the neck are fender or not... The guy I got it from said it was a bit of a bitser but I was thinking maybe in the electronics. He did say he sanded it all back and painted it too. I dont think hed be so stupid to sand all the markings off the neck and body so I reckon its just a clone. Who clones them though? And I also thought that the headstocks were copyrighted...

[dazza027]

@fenderhutz, how do I find out? Would the local shop know? One of the guys there is a bass god, Ive never seen anyone play a bass as well as this guy and he seems to know his stuff. Worth taking into him?

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

That is a really, really nice shade of LPB. Fender or no, that's one of my favorite color combos.

[Musky]

Originally Posted by dazza027

@fenderhutz, how do I find out? Would the local shop know? One of the guys there is a bass god, Ive never seen anyone play a bass as well as this guy and he seems to know his stuff. Worth taking into him?

Take a look at the neck. If it doesn't have a 3 piece neck, it's not a Matsumoku made bass, although if it does have a 3 piece that doesn't necessarily mean it is a Mat.

Does the neckplate say Made in Japan or just Japan?

[johnk_10]

it's definitely not a fender, since fenders never had a nut like that.

[dazza027]

Originally Posted by Musky

Take a look at the neck. If it doesn't have a 3 piece neck, it's not a Matsumoku made bass, although if it does have a 3 piece that doesn't necessarily mean it is a Mat.

Does the neckplate say Made in Japan or just Japan?

The neck plate says Made in Japan, as for the neck construction, I reckon its prolly a cheapo, the fretboard almost looks like plastic or urethane based. I dont know what you mean by 3 pieces. Is that down the length of the neck or accross the face of it as in like you would attach boards together to make a table. It looks like one bit though. The nut doesnt look to be original either, it has what looks like match sticks underneath for support lol. Still sounds luscious though.

[robbotbass]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

it's definitely not a fender, since fenders never had a nut like that.

+1.. I've never seen a fender with that nut style either. So prolly not a Fender unless it's a replacement nut on a Fender.